The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Good: Actually I should say the Great. Today's Winston Salem Journal editorial: they gave me a super endorsement in the GOP race. It's a badly needed shot in the arm as we begin the home stretch. Last night's WRAL-TV debate: while the pundits focused on Pat and Fred, anybody actually listening to the answers made a commitment to vote for me. My website at www.orr2008.com. Vision 20/20: the most thoughtful, creative and visionary approach to the long term economic development strategy for our state. Too bad it's also the best plan never read by the media or the public. My left ear: no more awkward bandage although there's a not-so-pretty scab (the Cary Skin Center trophy is now passed to Mark Johnson of the Charlotte Observer). The Knuckleballs: in first place where they belong.

The Bad: Poll numbers which continue to create a vicious cycle ie. bad numbers mean trouble raising money and less and less press attention which means bad poll numbers. Pollsters: a pox on them. Who knows who actually will vote in the GOP primary on May 6th? Pat McCrory's real record on immigration, property rights and leadership: Gonna be a long three weeks for ole Pat. This could be just like Memphis in the last two minutes...clunk...clunk...clunk. Voter registration numbers in NC since January: 76,000 Democrats, 54,000 Unaffiliated, 15,000 Republicans. Ouch! Houston to GOP...we've got a problem. WRAL-TV lighting for Fred Smith: one wag said it made him look like Lon Chaney...or was that Dick Cheney? The final round of the Masters: if you love golf it was tough to watch.

The Ugly: The Tar Heels first half against Kansas: I was driving home from a Lincoln Day dinner and turned the radio off with 10 minutes left in the half. The Moore - Perdue campaigns despite the pledge to "go nice": Yeh, unless poll numbers show the need to "go mean"...the ultimate in half-truth advertising. The N.C. Supreme Court's inexplicable dismissal of the Dell lawsuit: they are required by law to hear cases involving a substantial constitutional question. If there isn't substaantial constitutional question involved in that case, then I need to turn in my law license because I obviously don't know anything about the law. Friday night's upcoming Civitas Conservative Leadership debate in Greensboro: it's a cage fight and major smackdown event with predictions of blood being left on the Koury Center floor. The only thing missing will be Rick Flair. Wooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Finally, a tribute to Clint Eastwood and the spaghetti westerns. I caught the end of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly a few days ago. As Tuco soaked in the tub one of Angel Eye's henchman confronted Tuco. As the henchman waived his pistol around threatening to shoot Tuco, he suddenly spun around, gunned down by Tuco who had his pistol with him in the soapy bath. "If you're going to shoot, shoot." Tuco says. "Don't talk." Good advice, Fred.